Multiple switchboard.



No. 7I6,460. Patented Dec. 23, I902.

w. E. McCDRMIGK.

MULTIPLE SWITGHBDARD.

(Application filed Aug. 26, 1901.)

(No Model.)

lZw-aza 2 UNITE STATES ATENT OFFICE.

I/VILLIAM E. MCCORMICK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO INTER-NATIONAL TELEPHONE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ACORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

M ULTlPLE SWITCHBOARD.

PECIFICATION forming part cf Letters Patent No. 716,460, dated December23, 1902.

Application filed August 26, 1901. Serial No. 73,361. (No model.)

To all whom. it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. MCCOR- MICK, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and nseful Improvements in MultipleSwitchboards, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings-forming apart of this specification.

My invention relates to multiple switchboards, and particularly to theconstruction of spring-jacks or terminal sockets of telephone-lines inswitchboards of this type; and the object of the invention is to producea strong and simple jack and a strip or range of jacks comprising asimple and economical organization of the parts.

The invention comprises certain organizations and arrangements ofparts,which will be described in the specification and pointed out inthe claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention, Figure l isa broken top View of a range or strip of spring-jacks embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same strip from below. Fig. 3 isa rear elevation of the strip or range of jacks. Fig. 4 is a frontelevation of the range or strip of jacks, and Fig. dis a section takenvertically on the center line of an individual spring.- jack.

The front rail of the frame of each range of jacks consists of twostrips a and a of suitable insulating material and an interposedstrip 1) of metal, the latter being provided with means at each end forattaching the same to the framework of the switchboard. The strip 1) ispreferably bent near its ends, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of thedrawings, and is provided at its extremities with half round grooves orsockets to receive a suitable attaching device, whereby the same issecured in place on the switchboard. The several strips comprising thefront rail of the frame of the range of jacks are suitably bored, asshown in Fig. 5, the bore of the metallic strip 5 being somewhat largerthan the bores of the adjacent insulating-strips a. and ct, whereby thethimbles or test-rin gs cby which these several parts are united are outof contact with and properly insulated from the body of the metallicstrip, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. The thimbles or test-rings c of thejacks are preferably somewhat flared at their front or exposed ends topresent broad and rounded surfaces for the applicationof the testingplugand to more readily center the line-plugs and to aid in binding theseveral strips of the rail together. The thimbles extend through thefront rail and are screw-threaded at their rear ends to receive theupturned ears d of associated terminal strips d, the ears beingcorrespondingly screw-threaded to engage the threads of the thimbles,whereby the terminal strips are electrically connected to theircorresponding test-rings, as shown in the drawings. 7 The cars engagingthe thimbles and the flared ends of the thimbles bind the several stripscomprising the front rail of the frame of the range or strip of jackssecurely together, whereby these several parts are assembled together ina compact, strong, and simple construction.

The rear rail e of the frame is a strip or elongated block of suitableinsulating material provided with transverse channels or grooves e and eon its upper and lower faces, respectively, having intermediate ribs eand e".

The terminal strips d are secured near their rear ends in the grooves eby suitable screws, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, and their ends are formedwith suitable means to secure electrical connection with the sides oftheir respective lines. The terminals 01 are preferably reduced in widthtoward their rear ends, where they enter the grooves of the block 6,whereby uniformity of parts is secured in assembling the severalelements. The terminals d lie throughout their lengths in a horizontalplane, whereby rigidity of the range or strip of jacks is obtained.

The spring Zof each jack lies substantially parallel with its associatedterminal strip and upon the opposite side of the center line of thejack, being provided at its front end near the rear end of the thimblewith the usual downturned angular contact portion to engage the plug.The springs are secured to the block 6 in the transverse channels orgrooves e of its upper face and toward their rear ends beyond the lineof the block are provided with lateral ears or lugs Z and Z whichrespectively engage the front and rear edges of the block and preventlongitudinal displacement, as well as insuring uniformity of position inassembling the parts. The rear ends of the springs have suitableterminals. The springs are held in their channels by a suitablebinding-strip a which is secured to the block by screws passing outsideand intermediate the springs, as shown in Fig. 1, an intermediateinsulating-strip e being used.

When the parts are assembled, the structure comprises a range or stripof jacks of simple construction and compact organization which may bereadily placed in and removed from the board. The strips a and a of thefront rail and the ribs 6 of the rear rail project below the terminalsd, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, whereby when the strips or ranges of jacksare assembled in place one above another in the switchboard properinsulation of the ranges Will be provided.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. A range or strip of switchesconsisting of a front rail composed of outer and inner insulating-stripsand an intermediate fastening-strip, all suitably bored, test-rings inthe bores having flaring mouths and rear screw threads, a channeled rearrail, terminal strips in the channels of the rail and havingtapped earsto engage the threads of the test-rings, spring-terminals secured to therear rail and extending parallel with and above the strips.

2. A range or strip of switches consisting of a front and rear rail, thelatter having upper and lower channels, and the former consisting ofinsulating-strips and an intermediate fastening-strip provided withsuitable bores, flared metallic sockets in the bores, terminal stripshaving screw connections with the sockets and secured in the lowerchannels of the rear rail, springs in the up per channels of the rearrail having lateral ears, and a retaining-strip for the springs.

3. A range or bank of switches consisting of front and rear rails, thefront rail being composed of outer and innerinsulating-strips, and anintermediate fastening-strip, terminal strips connecting the rails, andspringterminals on the rear rail, the rails extending below the plane ofthe strips to insulate the adjacent ranges or banks.

4. A range or bank of switches, consisting of a front rail composed ofouter and inner insulating-strips and an intermediate fastening-stripsuitably bored, metallic sockets in the bores having flaring front endsand screwthreaded rear ends, a rear rail having upper and lower channelsformed by intermediate ribs, terminal strips in the lower channelshaving threaded connections with the sockets, springterminals in theupper channels, a retaining-strip therefor, the front strips and ribsextending below the terminal strips to insulate adjacent ranges.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twoWitnesses.

W. E. MCCORMICK.

Witnesses:

ROBERT K. GUSTAFSON, JOSIAH MoRoBERTs.

